title: Stability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) under different environmental conditions.
abstract: The stability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was determined at 20°C--40% relative humidity (RH); 30°C--30% RH and 30°C--80% RH. MERS-CoV was more stable at low temperature/low humidity conditions and could still be recovered after 48 hours. During aerosolisation of MERS-CoV, no decrease in stability was observed at 20°C--40% RH. These data suggest the potential of MERS-CoV to be transmitted via contact or fomite transmission due to prolonged environmental presence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Doremalen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bushmaker
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Munster
mesh_terms: D017934:Coronavirus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D013696:Temperature